On Wednesday, June 22, 2016, nearly 40 Portland chefs and International sak? producers will gather to share gourmet food and drink at the downtown Hilton Portland and Executive Tower?s Pavilion Ballroom. The evening will kick off with Kigami Biraki, a traditional barrel breaking ceremony meaning ?welcome and good luck?. (Bring your own towel.)

Taste the finest Japanese & domestic sak?

?Participants will experience dozens of sak? varieties,?including Oregon?s own Sak?One based in Forest Grove,?and learn how to pair it with any type of food from some of our best local chefs,? said Marcus V. Pakiser, Sak? Fest PDX spokesperson and internationally renowned Sak? Samurai.

Sak? is a fermented beverage made from rice that originated in China approximately 5,000 years ago. It came to Japan around the 3rd century AD where it has been constantly enhanced and refined utilizing modern brewing and bottling techniques.?Similar in profile to wine, sak? is valued for its fragrance, impact, sweet or dry finish, acidity, presence and complexity, and is as versatile as wine or beer.

Discover the versatility of Sak? at Sak? Fest PDX

Experience over 130 samples of Sak?, plum wine and beer varieties. Pakiser continued, ?Samples of Japanese and American brands and premium and several rare sak? will be available, as will regionally micro brewed ?jizake,? which means small, regional sak? brewer.?

Talented, local chefs and artisan producers?will prepare and serve a selection of appetizers, entr?e samples, artisan chocolates, cheeses and foods that complement different types of sak?.